Fluid control device



June 8, 1965 w. A. HANsoN, JR

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FLUID CONTROL DEVICE IN VEN TOR.

WALLA CEA. HANSOA;

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June 8, 1965 w. A. HANsoN, JR

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INVENTOR. WALLA CE AMA/50A BY J.

,4 7' 7' OEA i Y United States Patent O 3,l87,772 FLUH) CONTROL DEVCE Wallace A. Hanson, Jr., Valley Hill Road, Rte. l, Riverdale, Clayton County, Ga. Filed Mar. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 265,388 19 Claims. (Cl. IS7-599.2)

This invention relates to a uid control device and particularly to a control valve arrangement for a hydraulic pressure system, such as an elevator system, to control the rate of flow in response to control by an operator.

The present invention has a particular application in the eld of hydraulic elevator apparatus and hydraulic elevator controls but is not specifically limited to this apparatus and may find other applications in hydraulic uid control systems.

Hydraulic iiuidpressure control systems are commonly used in various places at the present time in applications where the iiuid pressure, which is obtained from a pump, is used for causing a load to ascend and then descend from a fixed point such as the ground. One particular hydraulic uid control system is in building elevators where the elevator cage is supported by a pistonthe length depending upon the height of the building-which piston is confined in a jack cylinder that normally is submerged in theground beneath the building. Fluid pressure provided by a pump is forced into the jack cylinder beneath the piston to cause the piston to be driven upwardly to raise the elevator cage therewith and there being electrically controlled valving to allow the fluid pressure of the supported load to be. relieved and to bleed off or drain from the jack cylinder back into the system at a particular rate of liow so as to lower the elevator and cage. Normally the apparatus is controlled from within the cage by electrically operated manual control devices, either buttons, toggle handles or other apparatus, and there also may be secondary or emergency controls located in other places. Conventionally, the down tlow control is governed by a ow control valve or hydraulic arrangement which receives the fluid in some manner in order to atiect the fluid pressure and the rate of flow as applied to the piston to lower the elevator cage in a particular mannerV at a particular rate of iiow.

Obviously, it is desirable to Vachieve a rapid rate of rise in the elevator so as to bring the elevator cage upwardly to the desired'level as rapidly as consistent with physical factor-s, such as the ability of average humans to withstand-sudden changes in speed; and in reverse it is desirable to lower the elevator as rapidly as possible such as the eteet it has on an average human being in the elevator cage to lower it at a certain rate of speed.r`

In a typical system the speed of reverse or downward travel will change in ratio with respect to the square root of the load. Also, the number of passengers and the load in the elevator is changing from time to time and the load itself is a dead load starting from a stopped position and becomes a live load as it picks up speed.

Since elevators normally must stop-within Ia fraction consistent with safety and again with the human factor,

of an inch or so of the level of the floor it is necesary,

within a degree of time limitation, to effect, a stopping of the elevator either on the upward or downward travelV feet a minute and having to adjust to a secondary speed in order to approach the landing and to level thereat.

Various fluid valve control apparatuses are known in the prior art specifically for governing and regulating elevator control apparatus of the sort also contemplated by the present invention. Some valve control devices use a piston assembly and control a piston assembly in two ditierent positions to obtain two ditierent liow rates. Others use two independent and separate valves in parallel and sequenced to obtain two flow rates. It is to be noted that the present invention provides an arrangement of two different size pistons in an internal valve body itself with the secondary low rate or the leveling speed piston traveling with the main liow piston to be opened upon closing of the main flow piston to provide two diierent flow rates in the desired sequence.

One of the great difficulties in obtaining satisfactory operation of the sort of control employing one piston controlled in two dierent positions to obtain two different flow rates is controlling the deceleration rate from high speed to leveling speed and still being able to stop the elevator at the lioor level with accuracy. Prior art devices provide in some instances a satisfactory stopping arrangement but the elevator will drift at the iioor because of the necessity of lilling too large a piston area and there is not aV proper cut-off of the flow at leveling speed for prompt and accurate leveling at the floor.

The present invention overcomes the difficulty previously described in the preceding paragraph and accomplishes this in one embodiment-by having two dilferent sizes of pistons which may be consideredV a leveling'or secondary iiow piston and a main piston withthe leveling piston of a smaller area relative to the main liow piston thereby accomplishing a much sharper cut-olf for accuracy of leveling without sacrificing deceleratio control.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved arrangement in a hydraulic control for controlling a hydraulic elevator or similar hydraulic apparatus in such a'manner that the leveling speed control is rapid and accurate and provides a comfortably sharp cut-oit for accuracy of rapid leveling. Y

A further object of this invention is to provide in a hydraulic control apparatus for a hydraulic elevator sys; tem or the like a primary control piston mounted for movement in the valve and a secondary iiow piston traveling therewith and having a smaller area relative thereto to provide a comfortably sharp control for accuracy of leveling.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a compact and composite hydraulic control valve system employing a primary control piston mounted for movement axially of the main body o f the valve and having mounted therein a secondary control piston co-aXial therewith and mounted for relative movement thereto land to travel therewith to provide a rapid cut-off of thev c0711-,Y

Y trolled ii-ow forV leveling.

A further object ofthis inventionis to provide in a hydraulic control apparatus vfor an elevatoror the like trol piston and the otherfor the secondary or smaller.

control piston, wherebyrrnore rapid and accurate deceleration is obtained for leveling and stopping.

A further object of my invention is to house a'control means in a compact, integral body to simplify installa' tion and service. p

Another advantage of the apparatus in the preceding paragraph is to obtain a comfortable and practically step-`V less deceleration from main llow into secondary flow; and also, to provide a valve that can set up a secondary flow without going through a complete sequence.

FlG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a hydraulic elevator system illustrating diagrammatically the principal components thereof and showing in central, longitudinal crosssection the valve control apparatus of the present invention and including diagrammatically the pair of solenoid valve control members.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view the same as shown in FIG. 1 but with the valve changed by lluid flow to indicate a condition existing when the elevator cage is leveling down FIG. 3 is a view the same as that shown in FIGS. l and 2 except that the valve is changed to indicate a Ycondition existing when the cage is moved from a floor position other than the lowermost floor position to establish the down speed of the cage.

FIG. '4 is a view the same as those shown in FIGS. l through 3 but illustrating a modified `form of the invention, using an optional pilot solenoid valve to obtain .secondary ow.

- Initially, by way of general environment and background material, a typical hydraulic installation which represents an elevator system is shown in FIG. 1 comprising, diagrammatically, an elevator cage 12, the detailsV of which are Well known, supported on a rigid piston 14 operating in a submerged cylinder or jack cylinder 16. which has conventional fluid packing and ring seal arrangement 18 between the piston 14 and cylinder 16. An input fluid line 20 leads into the cylinder 16 to provide iluid pressure beneath the piston 14 and to drain uid and relieve liuid pressure beneath the piston 14, respectively, Ifor raising or lowering piston 14 and the elevator cage 12 vwhich travels in a building structure 22 having floor positions 24 at which the elevator stops periodically.

4 cap member 68 closesl the rear-compartment 52 and the rear portion of the valve member 42 and housing 50 and is fastened in place -by a number of screws 70.

Cap r68 has a longitudinal bore 72 therein co-axial with the longitudinal-axis of the barrel portion 62 and the housing 50 and co-axial with respect to the main llow control piston 54. Mounted for movement in the bore 72 and a bore 74 Aformed in alignment therewith and co-axial therewith through the-piston 54 is a leveling or secondary flow control piston 76 having a longitudinal bore 79 therein co-axial with respect lto the axis of the housing 50 and with respect to the axis of piston 54.` The `front portion 80 of piston 76 is reduced indiameter to allow the n to adjust the secondary llow rate.

Still by way of background material a conventional pump 26 is power driven as shaft 28 by any suitable means such as an electric motor (not shown) and may be of the constant displacement type. Pump 26 supplies fluid under pressure to the 'whole system and which uid ultimately l is applied with pressure through the line 20 to the bottom ofpiston 14 to raise same in the manner previously described. A lluid reservoir 30 contains a supply of hydraulic tluid 32 which is supplied through an outlet 34 to the inlet portion ofV pump 26 and which in turn is supplied through the input line 36 to the whole system. Check valve 35 maintains system pressure when the pump 26is at rest. A fluid returnline 40 returns uid from the valve control device v42 of the present invention to the reservoir 30. v

Electrically operated control devices 44 which may be contained in and on the cage 12 of the elevator and also attached to building structure 22 normally are electrically operated to operate the solenoid controls of the present invention in a manner which iswell known in the controls flow of uid as will be described hereinafter. An annular stop ring member 78 is mounted on the piston 54 and encircling the secondary piston 76 to engagea shoulder 81 on rthe'secondary piston 76 after it has unseated and traveled a certain distance.r Anadj'ustment screw ymember 82 is threadedly engaged in the bore 79 of secondary piston 76 to receive selectively an adjustment screw driver member 34 reciprocally mounted therein in bore 73 of a cylindrical adjustment sleeve 90 which is threadedly engaged in a reduced opening and bore 86 in the cylindrical end 88 of the cap 68. Cylindrical adjustment sleeve 90 is mounted for movement in the bore 86 and threadedly engages the cylindrical portion 88 and has a slotted end 92 thereon.

An ordinarly screw driver may be inserted in the slotted end 94 of screw driver adjustment member 84 and it may be pushed forward to engage the slotted end 96 of the adjustment member 82 for the purpose of turning same Similarly, a screw driver'may be inserted in the slotted end .92 of the member 90 and it may be selectively rotated inwardly or outwardly tow place the end portion 95 in a ditferent'position to adjust the extent of movement of the primary piston 54 as it travels rearwardly carrying the secondary piston 76 therewith. A irst solenoid control valve 100 4 comprises a movable armature 102 in a housing 104 to which is connected a pilot ow control line 106 leading through the body of 42into the high pressure line 38.

A second solenoid control valve 108 comprises an armature 110 movable in a body 112 selectively to open and control a pilot flow control line 114 extending through the cap 68 into the compartment 52 behind piston 54.

YAn outlet line 116 extends from the solenoid control valve body 112 back to the reservoir 30.1v Another outlet118 extends from the outlet end on solenoid 100v from body 104 back'to the reservoir 30.

Normally, line pressure is maintained from line 20 through line 38 vinto the valve body 50 and there is no w flow of tluid when the main llow control pilot solenoid 10S and the secondary tlow control pilot solenoid 100 are de-energized.

is at the floor position 24 other than the uppermost posilield and does not per se form a part ofthis invention. y

It is considered sufficient to state that these controls contain some switch means to. operate ya circuit or circuits which in turn electrically operate the solenoid valve control devices.

Valve control device 42 consists of a barrel-like housing 4S having an outlet 5.0 lformed .thereon which leads Yto the iluid reservoir 30. Valve 42 has a compartment S2 formed in the interior thereof in which is mounted a primary or main ow control piston 54 of circular configuration withy an annular periphery 56 for sliding engagement with the interior circular wall of compartmentSZ and having a nose portion 58 `in which is-formed radial openings through which Huid may pass from a high pressure inlet line 38 such being connected with the line 20. The nose portionSS of piston 54 is yformed with a protruding operated control devices 44, 4the elevator cage 12 is propelled upward by pump 26 toward a desired oor position 24 atwhich a stop is to be made. If the cage 12 overshoots'the'oor position 24 (either by design or malfunction) but remains within the distance conventionally known astheleveling rene,l thesolenoid control valve 100 will be energized by a switch in the passage. (Refer to FIG. 2.) Armature 102'w`i1l thus block line 106 and open ak passageway from line 99 thru valve 100 to line 118 thereby bleeding bore 72.to reservoir 30 pressure. This change of pressure in bore 72 creates an unbalanced force on secondary piston`76 as the front portion 80' has line pressure exerted upon the annular area exposed be-` tween the outside diameter of piston 76 and its seat 77.

Y This unbalanced force moves piston 76 rearward until it is cylindrical outlet 62 having oriticesor openings 64 formed restrained by stop ring 78 which results in the secondary flow being established from line 38 thru openings 60 by seat 77 and on thru port 55 in the main ow piston 54.

Assuming that the piston 14 and theelevator cage 12F into line 40 into reservoir 30. Note that this flow may be regulated by adjusting screw 82 in and out to restrict this iiow passageway. The secondary flow continues until the cage 12 has leveled downward to the door position 24 and the solenoid valve i) is de-energized. Variable orifice 105 may be used to control the pilot iiow rate to reclose piston 76 to its closed position with seat 77 blocking port 55. Likewise, variable orifice 107 may be used to control the pilot ow rate allowing piston 76 to move to its open position.

Further assuming that the piston 14 and the elevator cage 12 is at a door position 24 other than the lowermost position, and in response to the aforementioned electrically operated control devices 44, solenoid valve 10S is energized (refer to FIG. 3), thus establishing a pilot ow from line 38 thru line 10o thru variable orice 117 thru line 109 into compartment 52 out line 114 thru variable oriiice 115 into valve 1193 past armature 110 on thru line 116 back to the reservoir 30. Now if variable orifice 115 is preadjusted more open than variable orifice 117, this pilot iiow will sufliciently reduce the pressure in compartment 52 so that the resulting imbalance on piston 54 will cause this piston 54 to move rearward. Note that line pressure from line 38 creates this imbalance on the annular area extending from the seat 57 to the periphery 56. Piston 54 moves rearward until the rear end of piston 76 strikes the end portion 95 of member 91B. Thus, with seat 57 opening port 59, the main iiow is established from line 38 by seat 57 thru openings o4 out outlet 62 int-o line 40 onto reservoir 30. This rate of iiow is regulated by adjusting member 90 in and out, thereby establishing the down speed of cage 12. CageV 12 continues downward until at a predetermined distance above oor position 24 at which the desired stop is to be made, the aforementioned electrically operated control devices 44 deenergizes valve 10S and at or about the same time energizes valve 10i?. With the pilot flow thru valve 1138 stopped, the continuing pilot iiow thru line 106 thru variable oriiice 117 thru line 109 into compartment 52 increases the pressure in compartment 52 until there is an imbalanced'force on piston 54 to move it forwardly until seat 57 closes off the ow. In practice, variable orifice 117 would be adjusted to obtain an acceptable deceleration from full-speed down into leveling speed and then variable orifice 115 adjusted for proper acceleration from the at rest condition into full-speed down. Upon deenergization of valve 10d and energization of valve 160, the resulting imbalanced force on piston 76 holds piston 76 against member 911 until retaining ring 7S strikes shoulder 81 and then piston l'76 moves forward along with piston 54 that is closing. This results in the cage 12 decelerating from full speed down into leveling speed. Cage 12 continues leveling down until when at licor position 24 the aforementioned electrically operated control device 44 de-energizes valve 160 and piston 76 closes leaving the system at rest.

Secondary flow can also be achieved using an optional pilot solenoid valve 140 in conjunction with valve 10S as shown in FIG. 4. Operation is the same as above described and main flow is shown in FIG. 3 and ascribed in connection therewith.

Operation can also be achived with proper piston 54 and piston 76 area proportions if solenoid valve 10i? and 108 and/or 140 and 193 are energized simultaneously to obtain full down speed and then'de-energizing 168 to change into leveling speed leaving 111i) or 14) energized until floor position 24 is reached.

While I haveshown and described a particular embodiment of my invention together with suggested operation thereof and a typical modification, this is by way of illustration only and is not to be construed as any sort of limitation on the scope of my invention since various alterations, changes, deviations, substitutions, eliminations, and ramifications may be made in the invention shown and described without departing from thescope of the invention as deiined in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In a control valve for controlling the flow in a iiuid pressure system such as a control system for controlling` the descent and leveling of an elevator in a hydraulic system in which there is a jack cylinder and elevator piston operated by fluid delivered under pressure from a iiuid reservoir,

(a) a valve housing having a chamber therein with an outlet leading to the reservoir and an inlet to said valve from the pressureline,

(-b) iirst control means in said valve having a throttled oriiice closing said pressure inlet from said outlet to control the tlow of iiuid effective from said jack cylinder,

(c) a second control member in said valve operable independently of said first control member and. closing a smaller orifice leading from said pressure inlet to said outlet,

(d)A iirst control means actuatable to cause an imbalance `on said second control means thereby to cause a reduced and throttled flow through said orifice normally closed by said second control means to establish a leveling speed.

(e) second control means actuatable to cause an imbalance on said iirst control means to establish a main flow,

(f) and said lirst and second control means being operable to cause said iirst and second member to return to closed position to bring said system to rest.

2. In a control valve for controlling the iiow in a liuid pressure system such as a control system for controlling the descent and leveling of an elevator in a hydraulic system in which there is a jack cylinder and elevator piston operated by fluid delivered under pressure from a fluid reservoir,

(a) a valve housing having a chamber therein with an outlet leading to the reservoir and an inlet to said valve from the pressure line,

(b) first control means in said valve having a throttled orifice closing said pressure `inlet from said outlet to control the flow of lluid effective from said jack cylinder, i

(c) a second control member in said valve mounted coaxially with and operable independently of said first control member and closing a smaller orice leading from said pressure inlet to said outlet,

(d) and-means to imbalancesaid first and second control means in desired sequence thereby toV establish selectively a down iiow bysa-id first .control means and a leveling liow by said second control means.

3. In a control valve for controlling the iiow in a fluid pressure system such as a control system for controlling Ithe descent and leveling of an elevator in a hydraulic system in which there is a jack cylinder and elevator piston operated by iiuid delivered under pressure from a uid reservoir,

(a) arvalve housing having a chamber therein with an outlet leading to the reservoir and an inlet to said valve from the pressure line,

l(b) iirst control member sealed` in said valve having a throttled or-ilice clos-ing said pressure inletfrom said outlet to control the flow of iiuid elective from said jack cylinder, i i

(c) a irst chamber for said iirst controlV member (.b),

(d) a second control member in said valve operable independently of said iirst control member and closing a smaller orifice leading from said pressure inlet to'said outlet,

(e) a second chamber on said second control (d),

(f) first-control means actuatable to cause an imbalance in said second chamber on said second control i member thereby to cause a reduced and throttled leveling fiow through said orifice normally closed by said second control means,

(g) a-second control means actuatable to cause an imbalance on said first control member to open and close selectively said main ow thereby to control the down flow, Y

(h) said means (f) and (g) being operable sequentially and selectively to travel up and down and level.

4. The device inclaimr wherein bothof said control means (f) and (g) are solenoid controlled.A

5. The device in claim 4 wherein both of said solenoid controlled means in (f) and (g) are valves that selectively vary the pressurein the chambers (c) and (e) to cause the imbalance.,

6. In a control valve for controlling the flow in a pressure fluid system such as a control system for controlling the descent and leveling of an elevator by a hydraulicl system in which there is a jack cylinder and elevator piston operated by fluid delivered under pressure from a fluid reservoir,

(a) a valve housing having a chamber therein with an outlet leading to the reservoir and an inletrto said chamber leading from the pressure line,

(b) a first control member in said chamber normally sealing a larger but throttled orifice between said pressure inlet and said outlet and sealing same around the periphery and said main control member being sealed for movement in said chamber with fluid effec tive in more than one direction thereon,

(c) a smaller orifice leading from said high pressure inlet of said chamber in said valve and to said outlet and normally being closed by a (d) second control member'movably mounted in said chamber and having a portion thereof effected by the pressure from said fluid inlet but normally in one position thereof being balanced to close said smaller orifice,

(e) a second chamber ,in said valve having a portion of the second control member thereintand adapted nor mally to balance the pressure on said second control member to close said smaller orifice,

(f) first solenoid valve control means selectively and electrically operated to bleed a small amount from said second chamber thereby to cause an imbalance on said second member causing said second member. to unseat from the smaller orifice and thereby per-V mitting a small amount of throttled flow therethrough, g) said throttled flow inthe above mentioned paragraph permitting the movement of the elevatorl in a controlled, reduced movement to the desired location,

(h) said first control member V.remaining balanced to close the larger throttled flow While said smaller throttled flow is in operation, (i) second control means operable to` reduce the pressure in one direction on said first control member to permit saidfrst control member to be overbalanced by pressure from the other direction thereby to open said larger orifice to operate the throttled faster. down speed of the elevator, Y

(j) Ysaid first andsecondcontrols being operably and selectively sequenced to cause said second control,

member to open said smaller and pilot fiow for leveling said'elevator or the like and thence to open said main throttled control ow for proper down speed and thereafter to sequence said first control lto close -said ma-in down speed but to permit said second con-V piston operated by fluid delivered under'pressure and from a fluid reservoir,

(a) a valve housing having an inlet therein to receive the iiuid under pressure from the uid pressure means and having an outlet therein to exhaust uid to the fluid reservoir,

(b) and wherein said fluid inlet is normally a higher pressure flow than said lower pressure fluid outlet,

(c) a valve chamber within said valve housing in communication with both said inlet and said outlet,

(d) first means in said valve chamber communicating said chamber with said inlet and outlet and adapted to move therein to close said inlet from said outlet, and including (e) a variable orifice moving with said means (d) to vary the opening between said inlet and Said outlet through said chamber,

(f) a second chamber formed within said first control member and having a first control passageway leading from said inlet into said chamber and a first outlet passageway leading from said second chamber to said chamber in said housing on one side of said first control member,

(g) a second means having a portion thereof engageable in the variable outlet orifice of said first control member to seal same in one position thereon and to open same upon movement,

(h) said second means having a portion thereof sealed from and communicated with the first inletvpassage in said first control member and the first outlet passage in said control member,

(i) adjustable means on said first control member operable to stop second control member upon the movement of same after it has moved out ofthe variable orifice, v

(j) said adjustable means (i) being adjustedV to vary the rate at which said second means opens said variable orifice,

(k)'said chamber in said valve housing being defined by said first control means into a chamber portion on one side of said first control means and .thel

chamber portion on the other side lthereof within said valve housing, Y (l) a first by-pass control passage leading from said high pressure inlet to the inlet of, (rn) a first control solenoid member having Yan outlet thereon leading to the reservoir,

(n) a second by-pass passage leading from' said firstinlet to said Achamber leading from the pressure line,

(b) a first control member mounted in said chamber and being sealed therein to separate said chamber into more than one compartment having uid therein operable against diierent sides of said member,

(c) said member in (b) having a variable orifice for the purpose of throttling the flow of fluid from said vinlet pressure line through said chambery and from t said outlet,

(d) a second control member mounted in said chamber yand having` atportionY thereof adapted to close an orifice leading from said presslu'e side of the compartment through said Vthrottled orificein said first member,V i

(e) a reduced passagerleading from saidpressure line to said'second control member and normally being blocked thereby to prevent said pressure fluid from exiting through said reduced orifice normally sealed by said second member,

(f) a second chamber in said valve housing sealed from said first chamber and the separate compartments therein and having a portion of the second control member confined therein to be acted upon by the change in pressure in said second compartment,

(g) a control by-pass line leading from said high pressure line to said compartment in said first chamber on the side of said first control member opposite from the outlet orifice side and said by-pass line also leading to the inlet of a (h) solenoid control valve electrically operable from a remote point to close said valve and having an outlet line leading to said reservoir which outlet is opened and closed by said solenoid valve,

(i) said solenoid'valve having a second by-pass line leading therefrom adapted to be closed when said high pressure inlet is closed and to be opened when said first solenoid outlet is closed,

(j) said second line from said first solenoid leading7 to the said second chamber in said valve housing to bear the pressure on said second control member in response to the change of (k) a third by-pass leading from said compartment in said first chamber opposite from the outlet compartment to a (l) second solenoid control valve having a control therein adapted to open and close said third by-pass and having an outlet therein leading to said reservoir,

(m) said second solenoid simultaneously closing both said high pressure inlet thereto and said outlet to the reservoir and vice versa opening said inlet to said outlet when operated,

(n) whereby in one sequence of operation from an at-rest position the smaller orifice initially is opened to a throttled main dow by the energization of said rst solenoid and thereafter upon energization of said second solenoid said first control member is operated to open said thro-ttled main dow through said main control orifice.

9. ln a control valve for controlling the flow in a pressure fiuid system such as a control system for controlling the descent and leveling of an elevator by a hydraulic system in which there is a jack cylinder and elevator piston operated by fiuid delivered under pressure from a fiuid reservoir, Y

(a) a valve housing having a cylindrical chamber therein with an outlet leading to the reservoir and an inlet to said chamber leading from the pressure line,`

(b) a first vcontrol piston mounted Iin said chamber being sealed in said chamber around the periphery thereof and defining said chamber into separate compartments on opposite sides of said piston,

(c) said piston having a variable orifice control mounted in said outlet and adapted to move in and out thereof to control the rate of flow therethrough,

(d) a second piston mounted co-axially with a portion inside of said first piston and being sealed around the periphery thereof to separate the interior of said first piston into opposite chamber,

(e) a control passageway leading from said high pressure inlet to the interior of said second piston on one side of said first piston,

(t) said second piston normally closing a second orifice leading from the interior of said first piston,

(g) a first by-pass line leading from the high pressure inlet to (h) a solenoid controlled valve having an outlet leading to said reservoir,

(i) a second control by-pass leading from said first control by-pass into the chamber of said valve housing on the side of said first piston opposite from said variable orifice,

(j) stop means for stopping the movement of said first piston,

(k) second stop means for stopping theV movement of said first piston,

(l) a third by-pass line leading from said portion of said chamber opposite from said variable orifice outlet to a (m) second solenoid control valve having an outlet leading to said reservoir,

(n) a third chamber formed in said housing on the side of said second piston opposite from said variable orifice of said first piston and there being,

(o) a fourth by-pass line leading from the high pressure side of said first solenoid control Valve into said chamber communicative with said second piston.

1G. In a control valve for controlling the fiow in a pressure fluid system such as a control system .for controlling the descent, and leveling of an elevator by a hydraulic system in which there is a. jack cylinder and elevator piston operated by fluid delivered under pressure from a fluid reservoir,

(a) a valve housing having a cylindrical chamber therein with an outlet leading to the reservoir and an inlet to said chamber leadingfrom the pressure line,

(b) a first control piston mounted in said chamber being sealed in said chamber around the periphery thereof and defining said chamber into separate compartments onopposite sides of said piston,

(c) said piston having a variable orifice control mounted in said outlet and adapted to move in and out thereof to control the rate of flow therethrough,

(d) a second piston mounted co-axiallyV with a portion inside of said i'irst piston and being sealed around the periphery thereof to separate. the interior of said first piston into opposite chambers,

(e) a control passageway leading from saidhigh pressure inlet to the interior of said second piston on one side of said opposed chambers adjacent said variable outlet orifice of said rst piston,

(f) said second piston normally closing a second orifice leading from the interior of said first piston,

(g) a first by-pass line leading from the high pressure inlet to (h) a solenoid controlled valve having an outlet leading to said reservoir,

(i) a second control by-pass leading from said first control by-pass into the chamber of said valve housingon the side of said first piston opposite from said variable orifice,

(j) stop means for stopping the movement of said first piston, Y

(k) second stop means for stopping the movement of said first piston,

(l) a thirdby-pass line leading from said portion of said chamber opposite trom said variable orifice outlet to a Y `(m) second solenoid control valve having an outlet leading to said reservoir,

(n) a third chamber formed in said housing on the side of said second piston opposite from said variable oriice of said firstV piston and there being,

(o) a fourth by-pass line leading from the high pressure side of said first solenoid control valve into said fourth chamber recited in paragraph (p) and solenoid control valves selectively for bleed-` ing said chambers.

11. In an elevator control valve for controlling the descent and leveling of anV elevator by a hydraulic control system in which there is a jack cylinder and elevator piston operated by fluid deliveredY under pressure: and from a uid reservoir, Y

(a) a` valve housing having an inlet therein to receive the fluid under pressure from the fluid pressure means and having an outlet therein to exhaust fluid to the fluid reservoir,

(b) and wherein said fiuid inlet is normally a higher pressure flow than said lower pressure fluid outlet,

(c) a valve chamber Within said valve housing in communication with both said inletand said outlet,

(d) a first control member movably sealed in said chamber4 andfarranged to communicate said chamnormally to balance the pressure on said second control member to close said smaller orifice,

(ff) first solenoid valve control means selectively and electrically operated to bleed a small amount from said second chamber thereby to cause an imbalance on said second member causing said second member to unseat from the smaller orifice and thereby permitting a small amount of throttled ow therethrough,

ber with said inlet andoutlet and adapted to move (g) said throttled flow inthe above mentioned paratherein to close said inlet from said outlet, graph permitting the movement of the elevator in (e) a variable orifice formed on said first control mema controlled, reduced movement to the desired locaber and adapted to move with said control member tion, to vary the opening between said inlet and said out- (h) said first control member remaining balanced to let through said chamber, c close the larger throttled flow while said smaller (f) a second chamber formed within said first control throttled fiow is in operation,

member and having a first control passageway lead- (i) second control means operable to reduce the presing from said inlet into said chamber and a Vfirst sure in one direction on said first control member outlet, passageway leading from said second chamto permit said first control member to be overber to said chamber in said housing on oneside of balanced by pressure from the other direction theresaid first control member, by to open said larger orifice to operate the throttled (g) a second control membermounted for movement fasterdo-wn speed of the elevator,

relative to said first control member and having a (i) said first and second controls being operably and portion thereof engageable in the variable outlet oriselectively sequenced to cause said second control tice of said first control member to seal same in one member yto open said smaller and Apilot flow for levelposition thereof and to open same upon movement, ing said elevator or the like and thence to open said (h) said.. second control member havingl aV portion main throttled control fiow for proper down speed thereof sealed from and communicated with the and thereafter to sequence said first control to close first inlet passage in said first control member and said main down speed but to permit said second conthe first outlet passage in said control member, trol member to remain open thereby to shift smooth- (i) adjustable stop means on said first control member ly from throttled down speed to throttled leveling engageable with said second control member to stop speed to bring said elevator to aY smooth proper the movement of same after it has moved out of leveled position. the variable orifice, y13. In a control valve for controlling the flow in a (j) said adjustable means being adjusted to vary the fluid pressure system such as a control system for controlrate at which said second control member opens said variable orifice,

(k) said chamber in said Valve housing being defined by said first control means into a chamber portion sealing a larger but throttled orifice between said pressure inlet and said outlet and sealing same around the periphery and said main control member being sealed for movement in said chamber Iwith iiuid effective in more than one direction thereon, Y

(c) `a smaller orifice leading from said high pressure inlet of said chamber in said valve and to said outlet and normally being closed by a (d) second control member movably mounted in said ling the descent and leveling of an elevator in a hydraulic system in which there is a jack cylinder and elevator piston operated by fiuid delivered under pressure from a fluid reservoir,

on one side of said first control means and the ,40 (a) a valve housing having a chamber therein with an chamber portion on the other side thereof within outletleading to the reservoir and an inlet to said said valve housing, Y valve from the pressure line,

(l) a first by-pass control passage leading from said (b) first control means in said valve having a throttled high pressure inlet to the inlet of, orifice closing said pressure inlet from said outlet (m) a first control solenoid member having an outlet to control the fiow of fluid effective against said jack thereon leading Vto the reservoir, and cylinder, Y

(n) a second by-pass passage leading from said rst (c) a second control member in said valve operable by-pass line into said second chamber, independently of said first control member and clos- (o) and solenoid controlled valves to selectively bleed ing a smaller orifice leading from said pressure inlet said chambers through said by-pass lines. t0 Said Outlet,

12. In a control valve for controlling `the flow in a (d) first control means actuatable tol cause an imbalpressure fluid system such as a control system for` coniance on said second control means thereby to cause trolling the descent and leveling of an'elevator by a hya reduced land throttled fi-ow through said orifice draulic system in which there is a jack cylinder and ele- Inormally closed by'said second control-means, vator piston operated by fiuid 'delivered under pressure 55 (e) `a chamberfhaving only a portion of said second from a fluid reservoir, control member therein,

`(a) a valve housing having a chamber therein with an (f) a chamber defined by said first control and having outlet leading to the reservoir and an ninlet toh said a bleed line therein, chamber leading from the pressure line, Y g) and electrically controlled means lselectively for (b) a first control member in said chamber normally varying the pressure in the chambers (e) and (f) thereby to establish regular and leveling flow. 14-.71In a control valve for controlling the flow in a pressure fiuid system such as a control system for controlling the descent, and leveling of` an elevator by a hydraulic system in which there is a jack cylinder and elevator piston operated by fluid delivered under pressure from a fiuid reservoir,

(a) ya valve housing having a cylindrical chamber therein with an outlet leading to the reservoir and inlet chamber and having a'portion thereofefie'cted by 70 to said chamber leading from the pressure line, the pressure from said fluid-inlet but normally in (b) ia first control member mounted in said chamber one position thereof being balanced to close said :and being sealed therein to separate said chamber gmane!- Orrif, c into more than one compartment having fluid there- (e) a second chamber in said valve having a portion in operable against different sides of said member,

of the secondcontrol member thereinrand'adapted 75 (c) said member in (b) having a variable orifice for i3 the purpose of throttling the flow of fluid from said inlet pressure line through said chamber and from said outlet,

(d) "a second control member mounted in said chamber and having a portion thereofk adapted to close an orifice lead-ing from said pressure side of the com- Y partment through said throttl-ed orifice in said first member,

(e) `a reduced pass-age leading from said pressure line to said second control member and normally being blocked thereby to prevent said pressure uid from .exiting through said reduced orifice normally sealed zby said second member,

(-f) la second chamber in said valve housing sealed from said first chamber and the separate compartments therein and having a portion of the second control member confined therein to be acted upon by the change in pressure in said second compartment,

(lg) yaV control by-pass line leading from said high pressure line to said compartment in said first chamber -on the side of said rst control member opposite from the outlet orifice side and said by-pass line also leading to the inlet of a (h) solenoid control valve electrically operable from e remote point to close said valve and having an outiet line leading to said reservoir which outlet is opened and closed by said solenoid valve,

(i) said solenoid valve having a second by-pass line leading therefrom adapted to be closed when said high pressure inlet is closed and to be opened when said rst solenoid outlet is closed,

(j) said second line from said first solenoid leading to the said second chamber in said valve housing to .bear the pressure on said second control member in response to the change of (k) a third by-pass line leading from said compartment in said first chamber opposite from the outlet compartment to a (l) second ysolenoid control valve having a control therein adapted to open and close said third by-pass |line and having an outlet therein leading to said reservoir,

(m) said second solenoid simultaneously closing both said high pressure inlet thereto and said outlet to the reservoir and vice versa opening said inlet to said outlet when operated,

(n) whereby in one ysequence of operation from an at-rest position the smaller orifice initially is opened to a throttled main flow by the energization of said lfirst solenoid and thereafter upon energization of -said second solenoid said first control member is operated to open said throttled main flow through said main control orifice.

15. In an elevator control valve for controlling the descent and leveling of an elevator by a hydraulic control system in which there is a jack cylinder and elevator piston 'operated by liuid delivered under pressure and from a fluid reservoir,

(a) -a valve housing having an inlet therein to receive the fluid under pressure from the fluid pressure means and having an outlet therein to exhaust fluid to the fluid reservoir,

(b) and wherein said fluid inlet is normally a higher pressure flow than said loW pressure fluid ou-tlet, (c) a valve chamber within said valve h-ousing in communication with both said inlet and said outlet, (d) first control means in said valve chamber communicating said chamber with said inlet and outlet and in one direction adapted to increase the flow through said outlet and in the other direction adapted to restrict the flow,

(e) an orifice normally closed by the operation of said first means, i

(f) a second control means on said valve having a iportion thereof in communication with said inlet in certain positions thereof and arranged to close selectively a secondary flow orifice independently of said primary flow orifice controlled by said first control means,

(g) a first solenoid control valve means for changing pressure causing motion of said secondary fiow means to operate said secondary control in said oriffice as when leveling said elevator,

(h) secondary solenoidcontrol valve means actuatable :to operate said secondary flow control, and

(i) lfirst solenoid control means actuatable to operate said first. control means thereby to open said main flow .as when said elevator is thereby establishing the down speed of the elevator.

15. =In a control valve for controlling the flow in a pressure flu-id system such as a control system for controlling -the descent and leveling of `'an elevator by a hydraulic system in which there is a jack cylinder and elevator piston operated by fluid delivered under pressure from a fluid reservoir,

(a) a valve housing having a chamber therein With an outletleading to the reservoir and an inlet to said chamber leading from the pressure line,

(b) rsa-id chamber having a first variable orifice formed therein with means thereon to pre-adjust same different-ly than a (-c) second variable orifice in said chamber,

(d) first control means in saidchamber operated by an imbalance of pressure thereon to move from a main line flow to a restrictive flow position,

(e) `a pilot flow means on said ch-amber t-o cause an imbalance on said first control in response to a (f) 'first solenoid control means for said pilot flow,

(g) means for adjusting the rate ot flow of said first control means,

(h) ysaid first control means opening in response t-o said ,fir-st solenoid to establish the down speed of the elevator,

(i) ia second solenoid control valve,

(j) a second pilot flow through said second solenoid control valve operable at the time said first control valve is de-energized tochange the imbalance torce Ion said first control means to cause same to close off the main flow,

(-k) means operable upon the energization of said first solenoid controlv-alve and energization ofV said second control valve to cause an imbalancegon'said secondary control means to open the secondary flowdescentand leveling of an elevator by a hydraulic control system in which there is a jack cylinder and elevator piston operated by fluid delivered under pressure and from a fluid reservoir, t (a) a valve housing having an inlet therein to receive the fluid under pressure from the fluid pressure means and having an outlet therein to exhaust fiuid to the fluid reservoir,

(b) and wherein said fluid inlet is normallyV a higher pressure ow than said low pressure fluid outlet, Y (c) a valve chamber within said valve housing in communication with both said inlet and said outlet,

(d) first control member sealed in said valve chamber communicating said chamber with said inlet and outlet and in one directiontadapted to increase the flow through said outlet and inthe othertdirection adapted to restrict the flow, said first control member separating said chamber into two parts,

(e) an orifice normally closed by the operation of said (h) secondary solenoid control means actuatable to operate said secondary flow control,

(i) first solenoid control means actuatable to operate said first control means thereby to open said main ow as when said elevator is thereby establishing the down speed of the elevator.

18. Ina control valve for controlling the flow in a pressure fluid system such as a control system for controlling the descent and leveling of an elevator by a hydraulic system in which there is a yjack cylinder and elevator piston operated by fluid delivered under pressure from a fluid reservoir,

(a) a valve housing having a `chamber therein with an outlet leading to the reservoir and an inlet tok said chamber leading from the pressure line,

(b) said chamber having a first variable orifice formed therein with means thereon to .pre-adjust same dit"-l ferently than a f (c) second variable orifice in said chamber, (d) a first control member in said chamber freely floating but biased and operated by an imbalance ofy pressure thereon to move from a main line fiowvto a restrictive fiow position,

(e) a pilot flow means on said chamber to cause an imbalance on said first control in response to a (f) first solenoid control means for said pilot fiow,' (g) means for adjusting the rate of flow of said firstl control means,

(h) said first control means opening in response to said first solenoid to establish the down speed of the elevator,

(i) a second solenoid control valve,

(j) a second pilot fiow through said second solenoid control valveoperable at the time said first control valve is de-energized to change the imbalance force on said first control means to cause same to close off the main flow,

(k) and means operable upon the energization of said first solenoid control valve and energization of said second control valve to cause an imbalance on said secondary control means to open the secondary flow thereby to permit said elevator to decelerate from `full down speed to leveling speed,

(l) said elevator continued to level down until the second solenoid control valve is operated to bring said system to rest.

19. Ina control valve for controlling the flow in a pressure fluid system such as a control system for controlling the ascent, descent and leveling of an elevator by a hydraulic system in which there is a jack cylinder and elevator piston operated by .fluid delivered under pressure from a fluid reservoir,

(a) a valve housing having a chamber therein with an outlet leading to the reservoir and an inlet to said chamber leading from the pressure line,

(b) said chamber having a first variable orifice formed therein with means thereon to pre-adjust same difierently than a (c) second variable orifice in said chamber,

(d) a first control member sealed and dividing said chamber and operated by `an imbalance of pressure thereon to move from a main line flow to a restrictive flow position, said member being free floating -and biased by pressure. g

(e) a pilot flow meansV on said chamber to cause an imbalance on said first control in response to a (f) first solenoid control means for said pilot flow,

(g) means for adjusting the rate of flow of said first control means,

(h) said first control means opening in response to said first solenoid to establish the down speed of the elevator,

- (i) a second solenoid control valve, i

(j) a second pilot flow through said second solenoid control valve operable at the time said first control valve is de-energized to change the imbalance force on said first control means to cause same to close off the main flow,

(k) means operable upon the energization of said first solenoid control valve and energization of said second control valve to cause an imbalance on said secondary control means to open the `secondary flow thereby to permit said elevator to decelerate from full down speed to leveling speed,

(l) said elevator continued to level down until the second solenoid control valve is operated to bring said system to rest,

(n1) a second member in said chamber and being biased and free floating independently of said first member to open and/or close said second variable orifice for leveling speed,

(n) said second member being imbalanced by a change of pressure thereon caused by the operation of the pilot flow in response to selection of said first and second control valves.

References Cited by the Examiner;

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,659,3 84 ll/53 Lowe 137-5992 2,899,976 8/'59 Ellis 137-599.?. 2,953,902 9/60 Arbogast 137-108 3,020,892 2/62 Arbogast, 9148 FRED E. ENGELTHALER, Primary Examiner.v 

1. IN A CONTROL VALVE FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW IN A FLUID PRESSURE SYSTEM SUCH AS A CONTROL SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THE DESCENT AND LEVELING OF AN ELEVATOR IN A HYDRAULIC SYSTEM IN WHICH THERE IS A JACK CYLINDER AND ELEVATOR PISTON OPERATED BY FLUID DELIVERED UNDER PRESSURE FROM A FLUID RESERVOIR, (A) A VALVE HOUSING HAVING A CHAMBER THEREIN WITH AN OUTLET LEADING TO THE RESERVOIR AND AN INLET TO SAID VALVE FROM THE PRESSURE LINE, (B) FIRST CONTROL MEANS IN SAID VALVE HAVING A THROTTLED ORIFICE CLOSING SAID PRESSURE INLET FROM SAID OUTLET TO CONTROL THE FLOW OF FLUID EFFECTIVE FROM SAID JACK CYLINDER, (C) A SECOND CONTROL MEMBER IN SAID VALVE OPERABLE INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID FIRST CONTROL MEMBER AND CLOSING A SMALLER ORIFICE LEADING FROM SAID APERTURE INLET TO SAID OUTLET, (D) FIRST CONTROL MEANS ACTUATABLE TO CAUSE AN IMBALANCE ON SAID SECOND CONTROL MEANS THEREBY TO CAUSE A REDUCED AND THROTTLED FLOW THROUGH SAID ORIFICE NORMALLY CLOSED BY SAID SECOND CONTROL MEANS TO ESTABLISH A LEVELING SPEED. (E) SECOND CONTROL MEANS ACTUATABLE TO CAUSE AN IMBALANCE ON SAID FIRST CONTROL MEANS TO ESTABLISH A MAIN FLOW, (F) AND SAID FIRST AND SECOND CONTROL MEANS BEING OPERABLE TO CAUSE SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEMBER TO RETURN TO CLOSED POSITION TO BRING SAID SYSTEM TO REST. 